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Democrats took control of the Colorado Senate by a narrow 18-17 margin after the 2000 election. Republicans maintained control of the House and the governor’s office. When incoming Senate President Stan Matsunaka spoke at the annual pre-legislative forum sponsored by the Colorado Press Association that year, he announced that because he didn’t believe a split legislature could agree on a plan, the Senate wouldn’t try to pass a bill to establish congressional districts for the next 10 years and the issue would be passed onto the courts.

Even more beauty is coming to our mountain community. Visual merchandiser Leezl Gnatovich will be opening a new store in the new year. Her aim is to create a rich sensory experience that will invigorate your shopping. There will be a touch of nostalgia thrown in.

Recently I was reading a book to my kids about the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention in 1787 when a remarkable fact jumped out: The delegates conducted their work in absolute secrecy. This was one of the only ground rules of the convention, and not until James Madison’s death in 1840 did his notes reveal the content of many discussions that took place.
It’s very possible the Constitution — and this nation itself — would not exist as we know it had the deliberations been subject to public scrutiny.

“This is a quarter of a billion dollars in stimulus we can’t pass up,” exalted County Commissioner Kevin McCasky in a story last week. “It’s going to be a great Christmas.”
Commissioner McCasky clearly has caught the holiday spirit and envisions a joyous Noel at the Taj Mahal. In fact, he’s even provided the snow job.

It’s the little things in life that are important. And for a little girl in Conifer, a small thing has left her life, and she’s pretty sad about it.
Garlands the hamster, voted Conifer’s first unofficial mayor in 2009, passed away in November. Garlands was 3 years old.
Garlands’ owner and human companion, Phoebe McKeown, 8, said she misses her furry friend.
“I’ve been sad for a little bit,” Phoebe said.

In the classic cartoon “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown writes a letter to Santa as his sister, Sally, dictates. “Please note the size and color of each item,” she says, “and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: Just send money. How about tens and twenties?” Rolling his eyes in disgust, Charlie Brown laments the commercialism that has crept into Christmas.

By now you’ve probably read or heard a story about the invasive policies of the TSA. Here’s another example of manipulation by the financial elite. Struggling to understand how the minds of these afflicted affluenzas work, I am wont to admit their incredible success. The entire country has been brought to its underwear by the likes of Michael Chernoff, George Soros and many other CEOs and lobbyists.